Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, March 5

The first annual Ireland Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on the campus of University College Cork in Cork, Ireland, on the first Sunday and Saturday before in March. The class was called to order by Juniper Hill leading 312b. Michael Walker offered the opening prayer.

A business meeting was held and the following officers were elected: Chairman—Juniper Hill; Vice Chairman—Robert Wedgbury; Secretary—Lydia Campbell-Maher; Treasurer—Eimear O’Donovan; Food and Accommodations Chairman—Sadhbh O’Flynn; Arranging Committee—Robert Wedgbury, Judy Whiting, Chris Brown, and Vicky Langan; Resolutions Committee—Vicky Langan.

Leaders: Robert Wedgbury 37b; Michael Walker 30b; Judy Whiting 354t; Vicky Langan 430; Chris Brown 35; Sadhbh O’Flynn 383; Blazej Matusiak 198; Eimear O’ Donovan 282; Alice Maggio 107; Aldo Ceresa 550; Malgorzata Perycz 442 ; Rodrigo Francisco 84; Aaron Kahn 47b; Nancy Kulik 74b; Jill Thompson 99; Declan Sinnott 168; Alex Lough 300; Bess Fitzgerald and Will Fitzgerald 39t; Phil Tyler 157; Thom Fahrbach 432; Magdalena Gryszko and Mark Cosgrove 542; Niamh Costello 269; Ruth Steggles 496; Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 192; Cath Saunt 38b; Alma Moledys 504; Cath Tyler 47t; Diane Mennella 475; Eamonn O’Neill 547; Karen Ivey 472.

RECESS

Rachel Jordan called the class back to order leading 501. Leaders: Hannah Land 33b; Sinead Hanrahan 86; Michael Organ 448t; Sheila Girling Macadam 142; Dave Condon 163b; Leah Hearne 347; Edwin Macadam 528; Eimear O’Donovan 452; James Power 421; Niamh Collins 117; John Seaton 63; Kamila Dembinska 326; Brenden McGeary 410t; Rebecca Over 532; Morgan Cavanagh 146; Katie Fitzpatrick 32t; Will Fitzgerald 42; Ben Kelleher 277; Robert McDonnell 417; Robert Wedgbury and Emer Hewson 148; Patricia Callahan 474; Richard Percival 49b; Lydia Campbell-Maher 503; Benny Ross 274t.

Juniper Hill and Nancy Kulik led 348t as the closing song. Nancy Kulik offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, March 6

The Sunday session of the Ireland Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Juniper Hill leading 49t. Nancy Kulik offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Robert Wedgbury 95; Eimear Cradock and Dara Desmond 178; Steve Helwig 351; Pauline Hyde 547; Ross Horbison 31t; Jakub Lipski 33b; David Ivey 500; Steve Welch 73b; Steve Biggs 288; Brian Whyte 146; Nick Hall 497; Al McCready and Aine Ui Cheallaigh 179; Steve Fletcher 228; Neely Bruce 484; Zachary Marcus 414; Patricia Callahan 382; Richard Percival 565; Aldo Ceresa 52b; Kamila Dembinska 183; John Seaton 47t.

RECESS

Cath Tyler called the class back to order leading 59. Leaders: Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 439 ; Michael Morrisroe and Declan Sinnott 313t; Leah Hearne 448t; Diane Mennella 564; Eimear O’Donovan 68b; Benny Ross 441; Karen Ivey 171; Eamonn O’Neill and Rodrigo Francisco 236; Will Fitzgerald 313b.

Neely Bruce and Steve Fletcher conducted the memorial lesson. Neely Bruce spoke for the deceased and led 348b and 189 in memory of the following: Moira Burke; Michael Thornhill; Tom Caulfield; Miriam Reidy—Limerick, Ireland; Michael Hyde—Upper Glanmire; Lore Jungst—Kriftel, Germany; Hilary Tomlin—New Zealand; Alan Cooper—Seaford, UK; Jessie—Bury, UK; Linda Champ—Winchester, UK; Valerie Munday—Southampton, UK; Betty Thompson—London, UK; Laurie Crawford—Kent, UK; Marion Biggs—Ringmer, Sussex, UK; Joyce Over—Camberley, UK; Jim Saunt—Norwich, UK; Joe Hall—Sussex, UK; Brian Alderson—UK; Gordon Jones—Wollaston, UK; Bill Boyd—Oldham, UK; Billy Williams—Alabama, USA; Jeanette McCready and Phyllis Bruce—Connecticut, USA; James Flynn—Florida, USA; Bob Meek—Kentucky, USA; Frances Ceresa—Michigan, USA; George Seiler—New York, USA.

Steve Fletcher spoke for the sick and housebound and led 411 in their honor. Vicky Langan read the names of the following: Lucy Chadwick, Nicola Macadam, Ita Ryder, Eithae Clenaghan, Lena Costelloe, David Daykin, Maggie Watson, Jeff Sheppard, Philip Ralls, Lionel Wollenberg, Mark Hall Amitin, Job Driggers, Maureen Jones, Stephanie Sheehan, Richard DeLong, Sofi Mogensen, John Taylor, Maire Caulfield, Dwight Diller, and Lonnie Rogers. Michael Walker closed the memorial lesson with a prayer and led 89. Blazej Matusiak offered the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Alex Lough called the class back to order leading 224. Leaders: Alice Maggio 335; Aaron Kahn 209; Sadhbh O’Flynn 254; Lydia Campbell-Maher and Caitlyn Campbell-Maher 106; Rachel Jordan 269; Ben Kelleher 163t; Hannah Land 283; Sally Sumner and Michael Walker 272; Rebecca Over 216; Sheila Girling Macadam 377; Michael Organ 80b; Dave Condon 38b; Edwin Macadam 217; James Power 417; Sinead Hanrahan 481; Juniper Hill and Mary Rider 29b; Niamh Collins 268; Declan Sinnott 318; Jill Thompson and Anna 299; Nancy Kulik 275 (t? b?); Rodrigo Francisco and Nev Kennedy 344; Malgorzata Perycz 445; Eimear O’Donovan and Daire O’ Sullivan 68t; Chris Brown 271t; Judy Whiting 384; Alma Moledys 85; Cath Saunt 47b; Blazej Matusiak 28t; Thom Fahrbach 77t.

RECESS

Vicky Langan called the class back to order leading 159; Magdalena Gryszko and Malgorzata Perycz 162; Joseph McGilloway and Will Fitzgerald 229; Ruth Steggles 294; Steve Helwig 270; Al McCready and Aine Ui Cheallaigh 347; David Ivey and Karen Ivey 83t; Zachary Marcus 398; Jakub Lipski 274t; Steve Fletcher 128; Neely Bruce 553; Nick Hall 455; Steve Biggs 276; Steve Welch 186; Pauline Hyde 86; Ross Horbison 107; Brian Whyte 421; Alex Lough 378b; Eimear Cradock 410t; guests from Poland 82t; Aldo Ceresa and Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 203.

A business meeting was held for the purpose of hearing committee reports. The Treasurer reported that expenses had been met. The Secretary reported that 57 songs were led on Saturday and 87 on Sunday, and that a total of 133 singers were present representing the following countries: France, Ireland, Poland, United Kingdom, and United States of America, (representing the following states Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Alabama, New York, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Oregon). The Resolutions Committee thanked everyone who participated in the singing and made it possible. Announcements were made.

Juniper Hill led 62 as the closing song. Michael Walker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Juniper Hill; Vice Chairman—Robert Wedgbury; Secretary—Lydia Campbell-Maher